A court in the United Kingdom has officially set a trial date for two prominent pro-Palestine activists, Chris Nineham and Ben Jamal, following their arrest during a protest held in London earlier this year. The two were taken into custody in January 2025 during a mass demonstration calling for a ceasefire in Gaza and an end to UK arms sales to Israel.
Chris Nineham, a founding member of the Stop the War Coalition, and Ben Jamal, the Director of the Palestine Solidarity Campaign (PSC), were among several protesters who participated in a peaceful rally that drew thousands to central London. The demonstration, which was part of a wider wave of global solidarity actions, saw police intervene amid heightened tensions, leading to a number of arrests.
According to court filings, both men are facing charges related to alleged public order offences. The case has sparked widespread reactions among civil rights groups and activists, many of whom have condemned the arrests as part of a broader crackdown on pro-Palestinian voices in the UK. Human rights organisations have also raised concerns about the implications of the case for freedom of expression and the right to peaceful protest.
The trial has been scheduled to begin later this year, with legal teams for both defendants vowing to contest the charges vigorously. Supporters argue that Nineham and Jamal were exercising their democratic rights and have called for the charges to be dropped entirely.
This development comes amid continued public debate in Britain over the country’s foreign policy stance on the Israel-Palestine conflict and growing scrutiny of the government’s handling of domestic protests. As the trial date approaches, it is expected to attract national and international attention, given the profile of the accused and the political sensitivities surrounding the case.
